Spreader roll

ABSTRACT

A spreader roll which is useful to spread a slit web into a plurality of separated webs includes an adjustably bowable shaft and a cylindrical outer surface mounted for rotation about the bowable shaft. According to the present invention, the spreader roll is improved by providing an outer cylindrical surface which is made up of a plurality of separate segments axially aligned along the shaft and each segment being freely rotatable about the shaft independently of the other segments.

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[54-] @EPHIEADTER Fi'lBlLlL 3,463,377 13/1969 Lueae "226/1 5 ['72]lnventoz's: 111mm 13. 111mm; Kenneth G. Fir-ye, both 3500524 3/1970jagmimfim 63 P of Downinmown m 31,213,513 10/1965 11011421111011. 211/03 J 2,712,681 7/1955 Warner ..2215/1 Q11 11 ['73] Assignee: (Impm'mlimml11e1e11, Beloit, Wis.

- 1 Primary Examiner-11ic1mrd A. 51111111211121 22 1F 1,Cl. HQ 116 19157E 1 I F a Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church 1 1 15113111370? qfififilAttorney-LarsomTaylm 1Hinds [521 m. m ..2J?.15/11S @,26/63,29/116 [571WWW/QT $1 5 9% A spreader tell which is useful to spread a slit web intoa plu- J am e1 Meme 1 rality of separated webs includes am a cljus'iablyhowl/able sham and a cylindrical outer surface mounted fwrotation aboutthe bowahle shaft. According to the presem'i invention, 1114:

w a spreader roll is improved by pmviding an outer cylindrical sur- [56]Rfiqmmms Emma face which is made up of a plurality of separate segmentsaxi" UNKTED STATES PATENTS ally aligned along the shaft and each segmentbeing freely rotatable about the shaft independently of the 0111c:segments. 2,168,572 8/1939 Landis 26/185 3,41 1,686 11/1968 Bender..226/185 1 11111111115, 31 Emmi 111g Figures PAIENIEBFEB29 I972 SHEET 1BF 2 mvmmns ROBERT G. LUCAS KENNETH G. FRYE PAIENTEDFEB29 I972 SHEET 2BF 2 om mm [NVEN RQBERT G. LU KENNETH G. FRYE ATTUIRNEY serrations unitThis invention relates to a spreader roll. More particularly, theinvention relates to a spreader roll which comprises a shaft which isadjustably bowable and a cylindrical outer surface mounted for rotationon the shaft. liven more particularly, the invention relates to such aspreader roll wherein the outer cylindrical surface comprises aplurality of individually rotatable segments.

in the production of sheet material, such as paper, large machines areoften used to produce the sheet product. in view of the large size ofthe machinery, the sheet is frequently quite large and very often toolarge to be utilized directly. For example, in the manufacture of paper,it is not unusual to produce paper in the form of a roll having a widthof 30 feet and a diameter of 9 feet. Paper rolls of this size are notnormally directly use-able. For example, in the case of newsprint, therolls used by the printer are much smaller both in width and indiameter.

While in the foregoing paragraph, and hereinafter, reference will hemade to paper, it is to be understood that while the invention hasparticular suitability to the manufacture of paper, it has generalapplicability to any sheet material, particularly those sheet materialswhich are normally produced in large size rolls.

in order to reduce the size of the paper roll, the large roll is usuallyrewound onto a plurality of axially aligned cores of suitable length ona rewind device. As the paper is wound from the large roll onto thecores, the paper is slit lengthwise to form a plurality of webs ofproper width. The width corresponds to the length of the core on whichthe particular sheet is wound. C verlap of paper between adjacent rollson the rewinding device obviously cannot be tolerated and, for thisreason, the slit paper is spread out, fanlike, by means of a spreaderroll. The conventional spreader roll comprises an adjustably bowableshaft and a cylindrical outer surface mounted for rotation about thebowable shaft. The most widely used spreader roll comprises an outercylindrical surface which is a rubber-canvas composition extendinggenerally along the entire length of the bowable shaft. The spreaderroller is adjustable to any uniform radius of curvature. For use in thepaper industry, the ordinary useful range of radii is from 5,000 to40,000 inches. The slit paper is passed over the bowed spreader rollerand the paper is thus spread out in a fanlilte manner to a degree whichis determined by the amount of the bow which is imparted to theadjustable bowable roller. While devices of this type are widely used,they are generally unsatisfactory in several respects.

The paper which passes over the spreader roll is, of course, ofrelatively low mass. On the other hand, the spreader roll, and the outersurface thereof, is of relatively high mass. Accordingly, in order toensure that the peripheral speed of the spreader roll surface matchesthat of the paper sheet, it is generally necessary that the spreaderroll surface be driven. Furthermore, the relatively heavy mass of thespreader roll surface frequently causes rupture of the paper passingthereover when the paper speed is reduced rapidly such as may happenwhen a rewinding operation is completed. That is, a paper roll of largediameter is normally utilized to form several rolls of small diameter.As each smaller roll is completed, the machine must be stopped, thewound roll removed, a new set of empty cores positioned on the rewinder,and the rewinding operation then commences. Each time the paper isstopped, the heavy outer cylindrical surface of the spreader roll mustalso be stopped or there is a chance that the paper will be torn.Furthermore, the entire width of the conventional spreader rollersurface is always utilized, thus the mass of the roller surface becomeseven larger relative to that of the paper if a paper of less width issubjected to the rewinding operation.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a spreader rollerwhich functions as the conventional spreader roller but which is freefrom the disadvantages mentioned above. it is a further object of theinvention to provide a spreader roller having an outer cylindricalsurface of relatively low lt a further object of the invention toprovide a nprc r having a cylindrical outer surface which is segmentthat only these portions thereof which are in contact Ii web or sheetare rotated.

The foregoing and other objects are achieved according to the presentinvention in a manner which will readily o parent in view of thefollowing detailed description of invention including the drawings inwhich:

FIG. l is a diagrammatic view of a rcwinding device including a spreaderroll according to the present invention;

H6. 2 is a elevation of a spreader roll according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 33 is an enlarged view of a portion of the spreader roller of H6.2.

A spreader roller according to the present invention is util-- ized in arewinding device shown generally in lFlG. l. A large roll ll of paper isslit by ltnives It, to form a plurality of webs having a width less thanthe width of the original roll. in the simplified version shown, theoriginal roll is split such that four rolls of equal width are obtained.The roll is wound from the large roll 11 onto a plurality of cores 3axially aligned in the nip formed between rewind rollers 4 and 5. A.single end of one core is shown in the drawing for simplicity. Each coreis thus wound with a roll of paper it having a width corresponding tothe length of the core. The width is established by the position of theknives 2 which, in turn, are selected depending upon the size of therolls desired to be produced. Overlap between layers of paper onadjacent rewound rolls ti cannot be tolerated in a device of this type.Accordingly, the slit paper is passed over a spreader roll 7 in order tospread the slit paper prior to rewinding. The spreader roller comprisesan adjustably bowable shaft over which is mounted a cylindrical outersurface which is capable of rotating about the bowable shaft. On passageover the bowed spreader roll, the individual portions of the web it arespread apart in a fanlilre manner Thus, a gap 9 appears between adjacentwebs thus forming a suitable gap 10 between adjacent rolls 6 formed onthe rewind rollers 4 and 5. The device is also provided with means todrive the various rollers and means to retain the cores Fl and roll a inaccurate alignment on the rewind rollers d and 5.

Spreader roller 7 according to the present invention is shown in detailin MG. 2. This roller comprises a shaft ll which is adjustably bowablein the direction of arrow lid. The shaft is adjustably bowable by meansof a pin l3 which is moveable in a cavity M located in one end of theshaft. The cavity lid is concentric with the shaft and includes a bottomwall against which the pin l3 bears. The inner section of pin 1123 ispartially cut away such that only a portion of the pin l3 contacts theadjacent portion of surface lli-l. The other end of shaft l l is fixedsuch that when pin l3 is moved against sur face R5, the shaft will notmove laterally. Pin lid can be biased against surface l5 by means of aram in which is operated by a hydraulic system which is not shown forpurposes of simplici ty. The hydraulic fluid is introduced between rainto and housing l7 which is in turn secured to shaft ill by means ofscrews 18. Hydraulic pressure between housing l and the ram causes theram to move to the left in the sense of Flt}. it which, in turn, causespin 313 to move to the left and bear against surface 15. Since a portionof the pin it? is cut away, the shaft is caused to bow in the directionof arrow llfll as shown.

The shaft is mounted in any convenient manner and preferably includesspherical mounting surfaces llll which do not impede bowing of the rolland which permit rotation of the shaft to change the location of the bowrelative to the unbowed shaft axis. Shaft Ill may also be: provided witha central slot 20 extending through the roll longitudinally thereof andpassing through the axis of the shaft. The slot facilitates bowing ofthe roller in the direction of arrow l2 and may mso be used to conveylubricant to a channel Ill present at the surface of shaft ill and to bedescribed in more detail hereinafter. According to the presentinvention, the adjustably bowa'nle th at roller is provided with aplurality of segments 22 axially aligned along the shaft. Each segmentpresents an outer cylindrical surface 23 which is freely rotatable aboutthe shaft independently of all the other outer surfaces of the segments.An individual segment is shown in more detail in FIG. 3 and, in FIG. 2,one of the segments has been rotated 90 and shown in cross section toillustrate the manner in which each segment is secured to the shaft 11.

Each segment comprises an inner ring 24 and an outer ring 25 mounted forrotation thereon by means of a suitable bearing 26. The inner ring isrestrained from rotation about shaft U by means of a pin 27 which fitsin the slot 21 provided in the surface of shaft 11 longitudinallythereof. Each segment 22 is restrained from substantial movementlongitudinally of shaft 11 by means of retaining flanges 28 and 29provided on shaft 11. The inner rings 4 are selected and spaced suchthat they do not unduly impede the bowing of the roll. Adjacent innerrings may be spaced slightly or the rings may be composed of a pliablematerial or a combination of these two features may be utilized toachieve this result. Each outer ring 25 includes a cylindrical outersurface 23 which may be provided with one or more circumferential slots30 which serve to minimize entrapment of air between the roller and thepaper or other sheet passing thereover. Each outer cylindrical surface23 is freely rotatable about shaft 11 independently of all othercylindrical surfaces by means of bearing 26. The bearing may compriseany conventional bearing and is preferably a roller bearing such as aball bearing. Accordingly, the spreader roll comprises a plurality ofrings having a cylindrical outer surface of equal diameter. The outersurfaces are in axial alignment and are spaced apart along the length ofthe shaft a distance sufficient to permit bowing of the shaft andsufficient to form a generally continuous cylindrical spreader rollsurface.

The size of each segment can vary widely. The diameter thereof willdepend to a large extent on the size of the operation, and willgenerally correspond to the diameter of conventional spreader rolls. Thewidth of each segment can also vary widely depending upon the size ofthe operation. In most instances, the segments will be between 1 andinches in width. In general, the width of the segments is most logicallyrelated to the width of the rewound roll. In order to provide aneffective rotatable spreader roll surface, at least three or foursegments will be present beneath an individual slit sheet of paper.Therefore, segment width will be not more than onethird or one-fourth ofthe width of the paper sheet passing thereover. The segments can be assmall as desired, a practical lower limit being about 1 inch or one-halfinch.

The spacing between segments should be sufficiently close to provide aneffective spreader roll surface which is effective ly continuous.However, the segments must not be piaced so close together as to hinderbowing within a given useful range. The spacing is clearly dependentupon the diameter and width of the segment, and no precise figures canbe given. However, it is a simple mater to calculate the gap that willbe necessary to permit unhindered bowing. The outer rings, of course,will generally be spaced apart further than the inner rings. The innerrings, in fact, can be quite close, particularly if fabricated from aresilient material.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the cylindrical spreader rollsurface according to the invention is capable of being adjustably bowedin accordance with adjustments made in the bowing of shaft ill and thespreader roll surface comprises the segment which include theindividually rotatable cylindrical surfaces. Since each of theindividually rotatable outer surfaces is of low mass, and since each isindependently rotatable, the present spreader roll is capable ofoperation at high speeds without the disadvantages mentioned above. inthe first place, it is possible to operate the spreader roll using themoving sheet as the driving force. A spreader roll according to theinvention is capable of operating in this manner at high speeds withouttearing the paper during the rewinding operation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a spreader roll including an adjustable bowable shaft, means foradjustably bowing said shaft, and a cylindrical outer surface mountedfor rotation about said bowable shaft, the improvement wherein saidouter surface comprises a plurality of segments axially aligned alongsaid shaft, each segment having an outer surface which is freelyrotatable about said shaft independently of the outer surfaces of allother segments.

2. A spreader roll comprising a bowable shaft, means to adjustably bowsaid shaft, and a plurality of rings individually mounted along saidshaft for individual rotation thereon, said rings each having acylindrical outer surface of equal diameter, said outer surfaces beingin axial alignment and spaced along the length of said shaft a distancesufficient to permit bowing of said shaft and sufficient to form agenerally continuous cylindrical spreader roll surface capable of beingadjustably bowed, said spreader roll surface comprising said pluralityof individually rotatable cylindrical surfaces.

3. A spreader roll according to claim l wherein said cylindricalsurfaces are each provided with at least one circumferential groove.

4. A spreader roll according to claim 1 wherein said outer cylindricalsurfaces comprise aluminum.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 645,433 Dated February 29, 1972 Inventor(s) Robert G. Lucas and Kenneth G.Frye It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patentand that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading, the name of the assignee should read: BeloitCorporation-- In the heading, the filing date should read: -December 16,196 9-- Signed and sealed this L .th day of July 1972.

(SEAL) Attest EDWARD I I.FLFILCHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK AttestingOfficer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC GO375-P59Q U,S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1969 O3G6-334

1. In a spreader roll including an adjustable bowable shaft, means foradjustably bowing said shaft, and a cylindrical outer surface mountedfor rotation about said bowable shaft, the improvement wherein saidouter surface comprises a plurality of segments axially aligned alongsaid shaft, each segment having an outer surface which is freelyrotatable about said shaft independently of the outer surfaces of allother segments.
 2. A spreader roll comprising a bowable shaft, means toadjustably bow said shaft, and a plurality of rings individually mountedalong said shaft for individual rotation thereon, said rings each havinga cylindrical outer surface of equal diameter, said outer surfaces beingin axial alignment and spaced along the length of said shaft a distancesufficient to permit bowing of said shaft and sufficient to form agenerally continuous cylindrical spreader roll surface capable of beingadjustably bowed, said spreader roll surface comprising said pluralityof individually rotatable cylindrical surfaces.
 3. A spreader rollaccording to claim 1 wherein said cylindrical surfaces are each providedwith at least one circumferential groove.
 4. A spreader roll accordingto claim 1 wherein said outer cylindrical surfaces comprise aluminum.